Highway centres to promote regional tourism

Mackay Tourism says visitors will be encouraged to explore the wider region as highway information stops become a focus of the regional tourism network.

Manager David Phillips says the five road-side information centres will aim to attract 35,000 walk-in visitors this year.

The highway centres will promote freshwater fishing areas and the convention centre to a wider range of visitors.

"They're accredited, they're impartial and they're a fantastic source of information and advice," he said.

"They're an absolutely pivotal instrument in getting people better dispersed around our region and staying longer within our region and promoting that means intercepting the travellers as they approach our region."